Minot, city, seat (1888) of Ward county, north-central North Dakota, U.S. It lies on the Souris River (also called the Mouse River), about 50 miles (80 km) south of the Canadian border and about 100 miles (160 km) northwest of Bismarck. It was settled in 1886 as a tent town for construction of the Great Northern Railway and was named to honour Henry Davis Minot, an Eastern railroad investor. Its spectacular growth in the early 20th century earned it the nickname “the Magic City.”
The city is now a regional trade, transportation, education, commerce, and health care centre. The Minot area is the state’s leading producer of wheat; barley, oats, rye, canola, flaxseed, and sunflowers are also grown. Minot Air Force Base (opened 1957), about 15 miles (25 km) north of the city, is a primary economic factor; business and financial services, telemarketing, and agricultural processing are also important. The city lies in an oil-producing region, and some lignite coal is mined nearby.
It is the seat of Minot State University (established 1913) and the site of the annual North Dakota State Fair. Cultural attractions include an art museum and several music and theatre groups. Minot’s international airport houses a museum displaying military and civilian aircraft. The city also has a railroad museum and a zoo. The Scandinavian Heritage Center and Park and the Norsk Høstfest, held annually in October, celebrate Minot’s Scandinavian roots. A reservation southwest of Minot is home to the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara). The International Peace Garden, on the U.S.-Canadian border, is about 100 miles (160 km) northeast of the city. The Upper Souris and J. Clark Salyer national wildlife refuges are nearby. Inc. 1887. Pop. (2000) 36,567; (2010) 40,888.